58 Pa. Code Ch. 163 — Rules of Racing

THE STARTER § 163.361. Duties of starter. (a) Only the starter or a deputy starter approved by him and by the stewards may start a race. (b) The starter shall give the orders and take the measures necessary to insure a fair start. (c) The decision of the starter as to the validit…

§ 163.362. Order of horses. A horse shall take its position in numerical order from the inside rail, that order to be determined by post positions.

§ 163.363. Use of starting gate. (a) A flat race shall be started out of a starting gate approved by the Commission. (b) [Reserved]. (c) [Reserved]. (d) If the starter or his assistants are unable, after reasonable efforts, to place a horse in its assigned position in the gate fo…

§ 163.364. Delay of start. The start may not be delayed on account of a bad-mannered horse.

§ 163.365. Schooling. (a) The starter shall maintain a schooling list, and a horse shall be schooled, if and when required, under the personal supervision of himself or his assistants. (b) Only the starter shall have the authority to designate the horses which shall constitute th…

§ 163.366. Fines and suspension. (a) The starter may fine or suspend a jockey for disobedience of orders for attempting an unfair advantage, but the fine may not exceed $250. The suspension shall take effect in the same manner as provided in § 163.182 (relating to suspension). (b…

§ 163.367. Misconduct. A starter or his assistant may not mistreat or use abusive language to a jockey.

§ 163.368. Approval of starting ability of horses. The approval of the starter of the starting ability of all 2-year-olds shall be obtained before they are permitted to start. Likewise, the starter’s approval shall be obtained for older horses which have never started at a recogn…

§ 163.369. Recalls. When a closed gate is used for starting and the starter has pressed the electric button or signaled by word or otherwise that the race is off there may be no recall.

§ 163.370. Notification of stewards of exclusion of horses from race. If a horse is locked in the gate, or if the starter excuses a horse from a race, he shall, in either or both cases, immediately notify the stewards who in turn shall immediately notify the manager of the pari-m…

§ 163.371. Other individuals on platform. While exercising his official duties, the racing starter may not permit another individual on the starting platform. Source The provisions of this § 163.371 adopted August 8, 1980, effective August 9, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3269.

THE PLACING JUDGES § 163.381. Duties of placing judges. (a) The placing judges shall occupy the placing judges’ stand at the time the horses pass the winning post in a race, and their duty shall be to place and record five horses or as many more as they think proper in order of t…

RACING SECRETARY § 163.391. Duties of racing secretary. The racing secretary shall discharge the duties of his office expressed or implied, as required by this chapter.

§ 163.392. Official program. (a) The racing secretary shall compile an official program for each racing day, which states the time fixed for the first race and gives the names of the horses which are to run in each of the races of the day. (b) The program shall indicate the order…

§ 163.393. Post positions. Post positions shall be determined publicly by lot in the presence of the racing secretary or his deputy, one or more stewards or their deputies, and at least one trainer licensed by the Commission.

§ 163.394. Complete record of races. The racing secretary shall keep a complete record of the races.

§ 163.395. Receipt and payment of moneys as agent of Association. (a) The racing secretary shall receive the entries and declarations, and he or another person designated by the association may receive the stakes, forfeits, entrance moneys, fees (including jockeys’ fees) purchase…

§ 163.396. Inspection of licenses and other documents. The racing secretary shall have the right to inspect an owner’s, trainer’s or jockey’s license, partnership papers, papers and documents with respect to a contract between a jockey and his employer; and papers relating to the…

§ 163.397. Stable assignments. The racing secretary shall assign to applicants the stabling that he deems proper to be occupied by horses in preparation for racing, and he shall determine conflicting claims of stable privilege.

§ 163.398. Notification of Commission of changes of trainers. The racing secretary shall notify the Commission and the stewards daily of changes of trainers as reported to him by owners.

§ 163.4. Use of handbooks. (a) A person may not make a handbook on the grounds of an association. (b) A person may not solicit for or bet from a handbook on the grounds of an association. (c) A person may not make a bet with a handbook on the grounds of an association.

CLERK OF SCALES § 163.411. Duties of clerk of scales. (a) The clerk of the scales shall weigh the jockeys out and in. (b) The clerk of the scales shall record and publish on the notice board an overweight or a change of jockey, weight, as compared with those stated on the officia…

§ 163.412. Duties of jockey room custodian. (a) The jockey room custodian shall see that order, decorum and cleanliness are maintained in the jockey and scale rooms. (b) The custodian shall assist the clerk of the scales in any way that official requires. (c) The custodian shall …

PADDOCK JUDGE § 163.421. Duties of paddock judge. (a) The paddock judge shall be in charge of the paddock and the entire saddling area. (b) The paddock judge and the horse identifier shall check the contestants for the races and have the horses properly identified. (c) The paddoc…

PATROL JUDGES § 163.431. Powers and duties of patrol judges. (a) An association shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Commission, at least three patrol judges, whose stations are designated by the stewards. The association shall provide some form of direct communication b…

TIMER § 163.441. Duties of timers. (a) There shall be one or more timers. The timers shall determine the official time of each race. (b) When electric timing is used, the races shall also be timed otherwise. (c) The time shall be announced and displayed. (d) A written report of t…

VETERINARIAN § 163.451. Qualifications and exclusions. The track veterinarian shall be a graduate veterinary surgeon, in good standing and licensed to practice under the laws of the Commonwealth.

§ 163.452. Duties of track veterinarians. (a) The veterinarian shall, in general, familiarize himself with the racing condition of the entrants and if, in his opinion, an entrant is not in condition to race, he shall notify the stewards and the racing secretary before 12:00 of th…

§ 163.453. Veterinarian’s list. The track veterinarian shall maintain a list to be known as the veterinarians list upon which he shall enter the name of a horse which he considers unfit, unsound or not ready for racing. A horse, the name of which is on the veterinarians list, sha…

§ 163.454. Acceptance of horse from disability list. The entry of a horse which has been excused from starting by the stewards on account of a disability shall be accepted no earlier than 48 hours after it has been excused or until its reentry has been approved by the examining a…

§ 163.456. Scope of veterinarian’s list. The veterinarians list as defined in § 163.453 (relating to veterinarian’s list) shall be binding on the several tracks under the jurisdiction of the Commission. Source The provisions of this § 163.456 amended July 14, 1972, effective July…

§ 163.457. Veterinarian’s drug responsibility. A veterinarian administering drugs or other substances to thoroughbred horses regulated by the Commission shall be responsible to see that the drugs or other substances are administered in accordance with this part. If a specimen sam…

DISCIPLINARY ACTION § 163.471. Disciplinary action for violations. (a) Whenever the Commission, stewards, starter or an authorized official acting under this chapter, finds a person or licensee to have been guilty of an act or omission in violation of either the letter or spirit …

REVIEW AND APPEAL § 163.481. Review and appeal. (a) The Commission may investigate and review a decision or ruling of the stewards or other racing official, upon its own motion or upon the written request of an aggrieved party. In the latter case, the appeal from the decision or …

PARTNERSHIP, COLORS AND STABLE NAME REGISTRATION § 163.491. Partnerships. (a) Partnerships shall be registered stating the names, addresses and Social Security Number and Federal Account Number of individuals having an interest in a horse, the relative interest and the terms of a…

§ 163.492. Colors registration. (a) An owner shall annually register the racing colors to be used and pay the current fee payable. (b) Symbols or markings may not be employed for false or deceptive advertising purposes. (c) The stewards may grant permission for the temporary use …

§ 163.493. Stable name registration. (a) A stable name shall be registered annually with the Commission and the annual fee for the registration is $50. (b) In applying to race under a stable name, the applicant shall disclose the identity behind a stable name. If a partnership is…

§ 163.5. Conduct. A person on his own behalf or in concert with another person may not expend less than his best effort to win a race in which he participates or give an instruction or undertake course of conduct for other than the purpose of winning. Source The provisions of thi…

LICENSING § 163.51. Persons required to be licensed. (a) The following are required to be licensed by the Commission before engaging in an activity related to a race meeting licensed by the Commission. The annual license fees and expiration dates are set forth after each occupati…

AUTHORIZED AGENTS § 163.511. Authorized agents. (a) A person undertaking or purporting to act as an authorized agent shall apply and secure a license from the Commission before so acting. (b) Application for a license shall be filed for each owner represented. (c) Owner’s revocat…

§ 163.52. Farrier’s license. (a) The issuance of a farrier’s license shall be dependent upon the ability of the applicant to satisfactorily complete an examination of his capabilities. The examination of the applicant shall be conducted by an organization or entity appointed by t…

TRAINERS § 163.521. Duties of trainers. (a) A licensed trainer may represent the owner in the matter of entries, declarations and the employment of jockeys. A licensed trainer may not have an interest, whether by ownership or lease, in a horse of which he is not the trainer at a …

§ 163.53. Application on behalf of owner. A licensed trainer may apply for a license on behalf of the owner he represents by signing the application for the owner’s license as if he had the power of attorney from the owner, for example, John Doe, owner per Richard Poe, trainer (s…

PENNSYLVANIA BREEDERS’ FUND PROGRAM § 163.531. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this part, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Breeder—The owner of the dam at the time of foaling, and indicated as such on the certif…

§ 163.532. Eligibility for Pennsylvania-bred races. To be eligible for preferences in races in which registered Pennsylvania-breds are preferred and to be eligible for entry in races which are restricted by condition to registered Pennsylvania-breds, a horse shall be registered a…

§ 163.535. Records of registration. Foals and sires eligible for registration shall be registered on official registration forms approved by the Commission and maintained by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. The registrar shall certify thereon the name and address of t…

§ 163.536. Appeals. A person having an interest in the matter shall have the right to file objections or exceptions to a registration and to the facts set forth therein within 30 days of the filing of the copy with the Commission. The objections or exceptions shall be delivered i…

§ 163.538. Purses and awards. (a) A prize awarded under this section shall be in accordance with the standards for purses at each racing meet as approved by order of the Commission. Each prize shall be advanced to the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper Account as won or earned at each meet by…

§ 163.54. Pony and exercise persons. An applicant for licensure as a pony person or exercise person who is not registered as an employe of an existing licensee may apply for a license if the applicant is approved by the stewards and registered on a separate badge list to be maint…

§ 163.54a. Application for trainer’s test. (a) A person who wishes to take a trainer’s test or assistant trainer’s test shall apply in writing from the board of stewards at the race track where he wishes to take the examination. The board of stewards will make a preliminary exami…